Costs · Family · England and Wales
Can't afford a family solicitor? What actually works instead
Solicitors set their own fees, so ask any firm for a written quote for your matter. A contested child arrangements or financial case can be expensive. If that doesn't work for you - and for most litigants in person it doesn't - here is what genuinely works instead, and what the court expects from you if you go it alone.
Why bills spiral (and how to avoid paying for it)
The most expensive mistakes are procedural, not legal: missing a deadline, filing the wrong form, serving papers badly, or turning up without the documents the judge asked for. Every one of those triggers another letter, another hearing, another bill. Getting the paperwork right yourself avoids much of that extra work.
Your four realistic options
| Option | What you get | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full representation | Solicitor does everything | Quoted by each firm |
| Unbundled help | Pay a solicitor for single tasks (drafting the statement, reviewing your bundle) | Fixed fee per task |
| McKenzie friend | Support in court, help with papers; no right of audience | Free (volunteers) or a fee: ask first |
| Full DIY | You file, serve and argue yourself | Court fees only |
Legal aid remains available for some family cases (non-molestation orders, care proceedings, some domestic abuse cases) - check the GOV.UK legal aid checker before spending anything.
What DIY actually requires
- Using the correct forms (C100 for child arrangements, Form E for finances) - get them from GOV.UK, not resellers.
- Meeting deadlines the court sets at each hearing.
- A compliant bundle: paginated, indexed, filed in time. Judges routinely complain about unrepresentative parties' bundles - a court bundle checklist solves this.
- Statements that follow the rules (own words, statement of truth) - see our witness statement guide.
Where a tool beats a solicitor
A solicitor's real value at the cheap end is administrative: assembling the bundle, building the chronology, keeping versions straight. EvidenceCanvas helps with that part: it organises your documents, suggests dates for you to confirm and drafts a chronology or statement for you to check. Every action shows its cost first; see prices. It is not a substitute for legal advice.
FAQ
- Can the judge go easier on me because I have no solicitor?
- Procedurally the court must hold unrepresented parties' hands a little (plain-English directions, patience at hearings) - but the standards for bundles, statements and deadlines are the same. Preparation, not sympathy, is what counts.
- Is a McKenzie friend free?
- Some charge nothing (volunteers, charity schemes); others charge a fee, so ask about cost and experience first. They can sit with you and help with papers but cannot address the court without the judge's permission.
General information about court process and costs in England and Wales, not legal advice. Sources: GOV.UK (legal aid, court fees); CPR/FPR practice directions as cited in our individual guides.